18 August 2016

22 July 2016

We are continuing with planting, construction of a speed table and other road and footpaths works this week.

15 July 2016

Weather permitting expect road surfacing activities on Sunday night this weekend. And there will be a big push on footpaths during the day in the next few weeks.

3 June 2016

All major pavement works between Bush Road and Rosedale Road and between Rosedale Road and Bass Road will be completed this month.

13 May 2016

Work continues on Days Bridge and cyclepath, footpath and kerb preparation begins along the western side of the Highway.

6 May 2016

Work continues on retaining walls and footpaths along the western side of Albany Highway as well as the Days Bridge barrier installation.

29 April 2016

Days Bridge will be closed to through traffic from Friday 29 April from 8am to 5am Monday 2 May.

22 April 2016

Days Bridge will be closed to through traffic from 8pm Friday 29 April to 5am Monday 2 May while a number of crucial construction activities are undertaken.

15 April 2016

This week we started stabilising and chipsealing on the western side of Albany Highway and completed speed table works at the entrance to Princeton Parade.

We plan to complete all major pavement works between Bush Road and Rosedale Road in April.

8 April 2016

Schnapper Rock Road is now open in its final configuration. We have started the installation of new street lights on the western side of Albany Highway between Library Lane and Albany Expressway.

1 April 2016

The heavy concrete bridge beams have now been successfully lifted onto the new Days Bridge and surface works are underway. Major works should be completed between Bush Road and Rosedale Road about mid-April.

24 March 2016

Night works at Days Bridge

There will be a full road closure at Days Bridge between Wharf Road and Library Lane from 7pm Wednesday 30 March to 5am Thursday 31 March while new bridge beams are installed. Heavy cranes will be used and a full road closure is necessary.

18 March

We are on schedule to complete all major works between Bush Road and Rosedale Road and re-open Schnapper Rock Road north in mid-April.

Project details

Albany Highway is a regional arterial road that serves the North Harbour industrial estate, 5 schools, Massey University and residential estates. The highway is an important connection to other areas of Auckland and a vital transit road for commuters and industry.

Traffic volumes on the highway are expected to rise from 15,000 to 20,000 vehicles a day by 2021.The upgrade is important to reduce congestion, improve safety (including the area’s 5,000 students) and encourage the use of transport modes.

The upgrade includes:

Lanes: The T3 transit lane proposal has been amended and we now plan to install a T2 lane (vehicles carrying 2 or more people) for a trial period. The change has been made after refining plans for a New Network for buses focusing on more public bus services on other routes. Modelling shows that T2 lanes will move more people in both cars and buses in the shortest time. The Albany Highway T2 lanes will be monitored and if necessary may change to T3 or bus-only lanes in the future.

On- and off-road cycle routes and wider footpaths, providing a safe environment and encouraging children to walk or cycle to school instead of being taken by car.

Photos of how the area currently looks when looking north, and the project's landscape and urban designers' impressions of what it will look like (images provided by Isthmus):

Congestion reduction

Reducing the number of vehicles using the highway will help to ease congestion when the upgrade is under way and in the future.

Consider whether taking an alternative mode of travel is an option for you. We recommend:

Catching a bus

With the creation of the T2 lane, buses and high occupancy vehicles will be able to avoid much of the queuing that forms on the highway during peak hours.

School buses currently run between local schools and Devonport, Northcote, Greenhithe/West Harbour, East Coast Bays, and Coatesville/Kumeu. Pupils should contact their school for information about these services or see public bus timetables and route information on this site.

Carpooling

Where possible take passengers or visit Let's Carpool website to find or share a ride. Carpooling can be an attractive option for people travelling to the same location or general area. Benefits to carpooling include saving petrol and money, reducing emissions and meeting new people.

The new T2 transit lane will increase the people-carrying capacity of the highway, so carpoolers with three or more people in the car will have a quicker journey time along the route.

Walking or cycling if you live nearby

There are many benefits to walking and cycling. Not only can it help increase your fitness, but choosing to walk or cycle over driving your car is better for the environment. Fewer cars on the road means cleaner air and less congested roads.

New segregated footpaths and cycle paths along the highway will help promote walking and cycling to school, with off-road cycle paths catering for young riders going to and from school.

Where it is not possible to separate footpaths and cycle paths, wide “share-with-care” paths will be constructed to ensure uninterrupted walking and cycling facilities along this length of the highway.

Consultation

Over 100 people attended the Albany Highway north upgrade open days organised by AT on 29 October and 1 November 2014. People met with the project team, viewed plans and discussed the upcoming activities planned during construction.

Background

In 2005, North Shore City Council proposed an upgrade of Albany Highway to reduce congestion and improve safety.

The initial proposal included constructing a four-lane highway with improved pedestrian, cycling and public transport infrastructure, and staging construction over a number of years.

In 2007, the council sought community feedback on this proposal. The council received 179 responses, with the majority strongly advocating for:

upgrading the designated stretch of highway in one go – completing it in stages would be too disruptive,

more emphasis on improving safety for school children, particularly those who walk or cycle to school.

This feedback, along with significant council and governmental policy changes and the need to minimise adverse effects while balancing the future needs of traffic and the community, led to a comprehensive redesign of Albany Highway in 2007.

In 2010, the council went back to the community to ask for its input on a new design. Information leaflets were distributed, open days were held, a library display was set up and there was coverage in the local newspapers asking locals for their feedback. Meetings were also held with property owners directly affected by the works.

The council received 59 responses and as a result a number of changes were made to the design concept. In November 2010, the project was transferred to Auckland Transport. In August 2012, the designation decision was approved for the roadworks. In September 2012, the building consent for the upgrade of Days Bridge was approved.